Sheet panel structure



Dec. 24, 1968 J. s. HITTER 3,417,519

SHEET PANEL STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 22, 1965 INVENTOR. (ZOSEPH H7752 UnitedStates Patent ()ffice 3,417,519 Patented Dec. 24, 1968 3,417,519 SHEETPANEL STRUCTURE Joseph S. Hitter, 723 N. Croft, Los Angeles, Calif.90069 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 500,585 2 Claims. (CI. 52-11)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A self-supporting, rigid sheet panelstructure which may be used for awnings, roofs, etc. The structure isformed of a plurality of sheet panels having hook means along theirsides securely interconnecting the panels. The ends of the panels areslidably secured into channel type peripheral edge members.

This invention relates to a structure formed from panels of sheetmaterial and more particularly to a panel structure formed frominterchangeable sheet panels that can be securely interconnected to eachother so to provide a self-supporting substantially rigid structure.

Prior to this invention in order to provide a sheet structure comprisedof a number of interchangeable panels suitable for use as a rigidstructure, numerous fasteners and supporting members were required tohold the structure together in a predetermined fixed position. Oftenstringers were required to be attached between the various panels. Thus,in order to fabricate a structure from sheet panels a great amount oftime was consumed in fastening the panels securely together.Additionally, the fasteners and supporting members 'for prior art panelstructures detracted from the aesthetic appearance of the structure.

Therefore, it is a primary object of this invention to provide aself-supporting sheet panel structure which is comprised of readilyinterengageable panels.

A further object of this invention is to provide a selfsupporting sheetpanel structure which is securely engageable with peripheral edgemembers.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingillustrative description and the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing a plurality of a interconnectedpanels engaged with a fragmented section of a peripheral edge member;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of two interconnected panels inaccordance with this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken through 3-3 in FIGURE 1 showing theengagement of a panel with a peripheral edge member;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmented perspective view of a peripheral edge member;and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmented perspective view of a panel.

With reference to the drawings a structure in accordance with thisinvention includes a plurality of identical readily interengageablesheet panels 10. Each panel is comprised of a longitudinal centralsection 12 with adjoining longitudinal side sections 14a and 14b on eachside thereof. Preferably, both of the side sections 14a and 14b aregenerally flat and disposed in the same plane. The central section 12 isalso generally flat but disposed in a different plane which is parallelto the plane of the side sections 14a and 14b. Longitudinal junctures16a and 16b between the longitudinal central section 12 and sidesections 14a and 14b in panel 10 are curved, preferably in S and mirrorS-shaped configurations, respectively (in the position shown in FIGURE5) so as to provide a substantially rigid support between each of thesections of a panel 10. Junctures 16a and 16b are the same height andparallel to each other.

Extending along each of the longitudinal marginal edges 18a and 18b ofside sections 14a and 14b respectively, are identical inwardly curvinghook portions 20a and 20b respectively, which provide a means for directfrictional interlocking engagement of each panel to an adjacent panel.These hook portions 20a and 20b preferably are flattened so as toprovide a tongue and slot type engagement when joined together so thatadjacent panels can be interlocked together when alternately inverted asbest shown in FIGURE 2. When so interlocked the panels 10 are heldfirmly in a predetermined position. Generally, it is desired that whenpanels 10- are interlocked together they form a roughly planarstructure. Also, the height of marginal edges 18a and 18b is preferablyabout one-half the height of junctures 16a and 16b so that when panels10 are joined together by hook portions 20a and 20b each of the centralsections 12 are in the same plane, as can best be viewed in FIGURE 2.

The ratio of the width of the longitudinal sections 12, 14a and 14b, thecurvature of the junctures 16a and 16b between these sections, and theengagement between hook portions 20a and 20b of the panels areproportioned in accordance with the thickness of the sheet material soas to produce a substantially rigid, self-supporting structure.

Slidably engageable with the periphery of an interengaged plurality ofsheet panels 10 are channel type peripheral edge members 13 which aredesigned to receive the ends of the outside panles 10 so as to form asuitable means by which a plurality of interengaged panels 10 can besupported thereby.

Each peripheral edge member 13 has a generally rightangled J-shapedconfiguration wherein an external upright section 22 is joined to aninterior upright section 24 by means of a bottom horizontal web section26. Along the top edge of interior upright section 24 is a longitudinalinwardly extending flat horizontal flange 28. A similar longitudinalinwardly extending flat horizontal flange 30 is on the top of exteriorupright section 22.

A vertical longitudinally extending upper stop rib 32 protrudes downfrom flange 30 a predetermined spaced distance from exterior uprightsection 22. A downwardly extending longitudinal finger projection 34protrudes inwardly from the inside surface of exterior upright section22 and terminates a predetermined spaced distance from exterior uprightsection 22. This distance is substantially the same distance upper stoprib 32 is spaced from upright section 22.

The vertical distance between flange 28 and flange 30 is just slightlygreater than the vertical height of a panel 10. Thus, as best viewed inFIGURE 3 a panel 10 can be slid into an edge member 13 so that it willengage and bear against the bottom surface of flange 30 and rest on thetop surface of flange 28 and thus be firmly secured in place. Suitablefasteners (not shown) can be attached inconspicuously to hold theengaged structures in place.

Rib 32 and finger projection 34 prevent interengaged panels 10 frombearing against exterior upright section 22. Thus, a gap is providedwhich allows drainage of water from the top of an engaged panelstructure into the bottom of peripheral edge member 13 from which it canbe diverted as desired. The interlocking engagement of the hook portions20a and 20b to adjacent panels 10 is designed so as to be substantiallywaterproof.

The convenience, flexibility and advantages of the subject panelstructure renders it suitable for a multitude of uses. In use thedesired number of panels 10 are interengaged by longitudinally slidingthe end hook portions 20a and 20b of alternately inverted panels 10together. Then the outside edges of the panel structure are insertedinto peripheral edge members 13 of a suitable length. These can then besecured in position by any suitable means. Legs (not shown) or otherextensions, well known in the prior art, can be attached t0..a panelstructure as herein described so as to utilize it in a variety ofmanners.

While the particular sheet panel structure herein shown and described indetail is fully capable of attaining the object and providing theadvantages hereinbefore mentioned, it is to be understood that it ismerely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of theinvention and that no limitiations are intended to the details ofconstruction or design herein shown other than as defined in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A self-supported panel structure comprising a plurality ofinterlocked sheet panels engaged with peripheral edge members, saidpanels each having three substantially identical longitudinal flatsections joined together by S and mirror S-shaped generally vertical,longitudinally parallel junctures so as to form a panel with sidesections disposed in substantially the same plane and a central sectiondisposed in a plane different from, but parallel to that of the sidesections, each of said panels having longitudinally extending, inwardlyconvergi g, edge hoop means comprising a flattened tongue and slotdisposed generally in a plane midway between the plane of the sidesections and the plane of the central section of said panel, said hookmeans providing means for interlocking each of the panels together in asheet structure by alternately inverting adjacent panels so that sidesections are generally in the plane of the central sections of adjacentpanels and tongues are engaged in slots of adjacent panels so as to beinterlocked by slidable gripping engagement of abutting surfaces andwherein the peripheral edge members include a bottom web sectioninterconnecting an internal and an external upright section, saidupright sections each having on their top edges inwardly extendingflanges vertically spaced apart relative to the height of the panelstructure to which they are engaged sufficiently to provide a closelyfitting support into which the periphery of the panel structure can beslidably engaged.

2. A panel structure comprised of a plurality of substantially identicalsheet panels, each of said panels being comprised of a generally flatlongitudinal center section and generally flat longitudinal side sectionon each side of center section, wherein said center section andadjoining side sections are joined together by generally verticaljuncture portions having an S and mirror S-shaped configuration on eachside of thecenter section, the side sections are both in the same planeand the center section is displaced therefrom in a plane parallel to theplane of the side sections, and integral hook means extendlongitudinally along the side marginal edges of Said side sections toprovide a means for engaging each of the panels of the structuretogether, said hook means being detachably interconnectable to providepredetermined firm engagement between joined panels which arealternately inverted, so that all the side sections of the engagedpanels are in the same plane and all the center sections are in the sameplane, and wherein the width of the sections of the panels, thejunctures between said sections and the engagements between the panelsprovide a substantially rigid, unitary, self-supported structure, andperipheral supporting member which can be engaged with peripheral edgesof the engaged panels, said peripheral supporting members comprising arigid generally .T-shaped structure having a bottom web section disposedgenerally parallel to the lower plane of the panel structure whenengaged thereto, an upright exterior section extending generallyperpendicular from said bottom web section, said exterior section havinginwardly protruding stop means, an upright interior section extendingperpendicularly from said bottom web section, and flange support meansprotruding from each of said interior and exterior sections for slidablyengaging peripheral edges of said sheet panel structure.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,440,763 5/1948 Todhunter 525883,228,159 1/1966 Vecchiarelli 52-478 3,242,626 3/1966 Blok 524783,253,375 5/1966 Takehara 52478 3,286,404 11/1966 Harrison 52-75 FOREIGNPATENTS 239,834 1962 Australia.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

PRICE C. PAW, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl X.R.

